342- Don’t Believe your Ears

 

St-Takla.org Image: Modern Coptic icon of St. Pachom, Pachomius, Pachome, Pakhom of Egypt (Saint Bakhomious Ab El Shareka), founder of Christian cenobitic monasticism, painting by Dr. Bedour Latif and Dr. Youssef Nassief. صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: أيقونة قبطية حديثة تصور القديس الأنبا باخوميوس أب الشركة - أنبا باخوم، رسم د. بدور لطيف، د. يوسف نصيف.

Young Pachomius was attracted to the Christian faith by the power of love and he practiced love. He established more than 10 monasteries that harbored thousands of monks. Their motto was the life of sharing and brotherly love. They were together in prayers and in their meals. Some chose to dwell in separate caves outside the monastery but still praying for the whole world.

One day some hermits came to visit father Pachomius. After a long spiritual conversation, the father asked his disciple Tadros to prepare a meal for the guests.

As Tadros was late, the father asked another monk to prepare a meal for the guests. That monk was late also so father Pachomius asked a third monk to prepare the table. At last, the father himself got up and prepared the table himself.

Father Pachomius was surprised, especially since he knew that his disciple Tadros was very obedient. Father Pachomius in a kind word said to his disciple, “If your own father asked you to do something would you not do it?”

Tears came rolling from Tadros’ eyes saying, “Did I refuse to do any service for you?” Father Pachomius replied, “I asked you to prepare the table for the guests but you never did.”

“Father, I heard you saying leave us alone because we’ll discuss private matters,” said Tadros. The father was astonished and he asked the other two monks and they replied with the same words.

Father Pachomius rang the bell, collected all the 1500 monks and he told the story to all of them. He also mentioned seeing a ghost that was in the window. He realized that it was the devil that changes the words so that the brothers mistrust each other and lose their brotherly love.

In the name of love, do not believe even your ears. You could hear what your brother never uttered or you could comprehend what he never meant.

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: لا تصدق أذنك!

Lord, grant me the spirit of brotherly love,

So my heart would be big enough for every one.

Let me not trust my feelings.

Let me see every one through You so I can rejoice with them and love You through them.

The Feelings of the President

Short Stories (Stories for the Youth) Books by Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty

With the Bus Driver